Reinhold Messner’s fascinating “Myth of the Mountain” museum, housed in a medieval castle in the Val Venosta
Image gallery: Juval Castle MMM
High above Naturno, in the small village of Juval within the municipality of Castelbello-Ciardes, sits Juval Castle. Its name likely derives from the Latin word "iuvalis" (yoke). Built around 1250, the castle is first documented in 1278 as belonging to Hugo von Montalban.
In the 14th century, Juval Castle was owned by the Lords of Starkenberg, but after frequent changes of ownership, the complex gradually fell into disrepair. In 1913, the Dutchman William Rowland acquired the ruins and had them renovated under the direction of the Merano architect Adalbert Wietek. In 1983, Reinhold Messner took over the complex and extensively restored it.
Today, Juval Castle houses a museum, a winery, an organic farm, and a traditional South Tyrolean "Buschenschank", that's to say a wine tavern. Since 1995, Juval Castle has been open to visitors. The MMM Juval, "Myth of the Mountain", is part of the Messner Mountain Museums. Here, you'll find the world's largest collection of Tibetan art, Messner's collection of masks from five continents, and a gallery with mountain paintings extending over several floors.
How to get there: A shuttle bus runs there from the Juval car park. Alternatively, you can hike to the castle, either via the Waalweg path or along the Via Vinum Venostis between Laces and Juval.
Contact info
- Via Juval / Juvalweg 3 - 39020 - Castelbello / Kastelbell
- +39 348 4433 871
- juval@messner-mountain-museum.it
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
MMM Juval:
€ 14.00 adults
€ 12.00 students
€ 12.00 seniors 65+
€ 12.00 groups (more than 15 persons)
€ 12.00 people with disabilities
€ 6.00 children and young people (6-18 years)
€ 6.00 school classes (6-19 years)
€ 32.00 family ticket (2 adults with children under 14 years)
€ 18.00 family ticket (1 adult with children under 14 years)
free for children under 6 years
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MMM Tour-Ticket - one visit each to the 6 MMM:
€ 55.00 adults
€ 45.00 students
€ 45.00 seniors 65+
€ 45.00 groups (more than 15 persons)
€ 45.00 people with disabilities
€ 25.00 children and young people (6-18 years)
€ 125.00 family ticket (2 adults with children under 14 years)
€ 65.00 family ticket (1 adult with children under 14 years)
More information
Juval Castle and its museum stay open every year from the end of March to early November, Wednesday rest day. Both remain closed in winter.
Season start 2025 on March 23.
